Oshawa rec users facing fee hikes for most services

Public meeting on hikes to be held Jan. 31

Oshawa rec users facing fee hikes for most services

Jason Liebregts / Metroland

OSHAWA -- Participants got a workout in the aquafit class January 28 at the Legends Centre pool. Oshawa City staff are recommending a 3.5-per cent fee hike for most recreation programs this year and a similar hike next year. A comparison between Oshawa and the average fees in other Durham municipalities found that Oshawa charges less in the majority of cases. January 28, 2013

Legends Centre

Jason Liebregts / Metroland

OSHAWA -- Oshawa City staff are recommending a 3.5-per cent fee hike for most recreation programs this year and a similar hike next year. A comparison between Oshawa and the average fees in other Durham municipalities found that Oshawa charges less in the majority of cases. January 28, 2013

Legends Centre

Jason Liebregts / Metroland

OSHAWA -- Participants got a workout in the fitness room January 28 at the Legends Centre. Oshawa City staff are recommending a 3.5-per cent fee hike for most recreation programs this year and a similar hike next year. A comparison between Oshawa and the average fees in other Durham municipalities found that Oshawa charges less in the majority of cases. January 28, 2013

Legends Centre

Jason Liebregts / Metroland

OSHAWA -- Participants got a workout, including Sabastian Kokoszka in the fitness room January 28 at the Legends Centre. Oshawa City staff are recommending a 3.5-per cent fee hike for most recreation programs this year and a similar hike next year. A comparison between Oshawa and the average fees in other Durham municipalities found that Oshawa charges less in the majority of cases. January 28, 2013

Legends Centre

Jason Liebregts / Metroland

OSHAWA -- Jack Hazlett and Haziq Khilji warmed up for a basketball game January 28 at the Legends Centre. Oshawa City staff are recommending a 3.5-per cent fee hike for most recreation programs this year and a similar hike next year. A comparison between Oshawa and the average fees in other Durham municipalities found that Oshawa charges less in the majority of cases. January 28, 2013

OSHAWA -- Across-the-board recreation fee hikes are on the table after a survey by City staff found that Oshawa charges less than neighbouring Durham municipalities for most recreation services.

City staff are proposing a 3.5-per cent hike this spring and another 3.5-per cent hike in 2014 for programs such as swimming, skating, gym fees, kids' camps and facility rentals, including the rental of ice and fields by sports teams. The increased fees are set to generate an additional $180,420 in revenue in 2013 and $258,895 in 2014.

"We feel that it's fair, it reflects the inflationary rate, it isn't exorbitant," said City manager Bob Duignan. "We don't feel that it will impact our users."

According to a staff survey of other Durham municipalities, Oshawa charges less than its neighbours for 80 per cent of the programs where a comparison was available. Mr. Duignan said that even with the proposed fee hikes, Oshawa fees would still be lower than the average in most cases.

City council is set to consider the increases at a special meeting on Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 50 Centre St. S.

Jag Sharma, the City's commissioner of community services, said increasing fees improves the balance between rec users and taxpayers.

According to a report from the City's auditor, Oshawa's taxpayers pay more per capita for recreation services and facilities than other municipalities at $223 per capita compared to $140 among the City's municipal counterparts. Part of that is the wider variety of services in Oshawa -- such as both indoor and outdoor soccer -- but lower fees is also a factor.

The City had a $15.4 million recreation budget in 2012, of which $7.2 million was recovered through fees and other revenue. The largest cost was staffing followed by utilities and repair and maintenance.

Mr. Duignan acknowledged that Oshawa has higher taxes than other municipalities in Durham, but said that over the last couple of years, the City has had the lowest tax rate increase.

"But we still have a higher overall taxation level in Oshawa," said Mr. Duignan. "So our direction that we're trying to achieve is to close that gap with the other municipalities."

The only proposed exemptions are seniors' recreation membership fees, the $25 hourly surcharge portion of the ice rental fee and the $5 field fee for kids' teams. However, City staff will be coming back with a subsequent report on seniors' fees.

But one group of rec users is set to catch a break if council opts for the staff recommendation.

In 2011, the City created a 20 per cent surcharge for non-residents who use recreation programs. Staff are now recommending that the surcharge be scrapped after a decline of roughly 3,000 non-resident registrations and a revenue loss of $265,000 since the creation of the fee.

Mr. Duignan said the surcharge brought Oshawa's fees in line with other Durham municipalities, which meant that people simply stayed home. Non-resident use helps maximize facility use which offsets some of the fixed costs and is ultimately beneficial for the taxpayer, said the City manager.

News of a potential fee increase was not welcomed by rec users at the Civic this week.

One woman who was taking her grandson to a swim class worried that an increase in fees would be a problem for her daughter, a single mother.

"This is already a struggle," she said. "If the fees were to go up, it would be a deterrent."

Courtice resident Bill Cunliffe runs a track and field program for youth at the Civic. He said participants come from Oshawa and other areas of Durham and the kids' parents cover the rental fees. He pointed out that some track clubs have already moved to Whitby's Abilities Centre and he would have to compare costs after the fee hike.

"I like the facility here, it's been good to us," he said.

Heading into the Civic, 14-year-old Oshawa resident Skylar Ruiz gave the fee increase the thumbs down.

"I think it's stupid because they're always complaining about children being obese but then they won't be going swimming or skating or to the weight room," she said. "Some people, even though it's pretty cheap, won't be able to afford it."

"Why have it there if no one's going to use it if the prices are too high?" added her friend Rachel Major, 14.

According to the report, there are a number of programs available for residents who can't afford recreation fees, including a 100-per cent subsidy for recipients of Ontario Works and disability support, with the City and the Region of Durham covering the cost. Last year, the City provided $23,100 for the program.

A 75-per cent subsidy is also available for low-income, working poor families, but the program seems little used as the City only paid $100 into the program last year.

Subsidies are also provided through two private organizations, the Canadian Tire JumpStart Program and the Hyundai Canada Hockey Helpers Program.

For more information on the proposed rec fee increases, read the full report at www.oshawa.ca.

Reporter Reka Szekely covers the City of Oshawa for Metroland Media Group’s Durham Region Division. Reka's social media column appears every other week. Contact her on Facebook, Twitter (@rszekely)